This is the 22nd consecutive year of CNP’s participation in the March for Babies. Kenny Mercado, division senior vice president of Smart Grid development and executive walk chairman, set a companywide goal of increasing both the number of participants and monetary donations by 10 percent. “I couldn’t be more proud of our employees who, despite the difficult economy, far surpassed our goal,” said Mercado. “In total, we registered 2,520 walkers and raised more than $167,000 for the March of Dimes. The fight against infant mortality, birth defects and premature birth rates is challenging, and our employees rose to the task of supporting this noble cause in a huge way.”

In Minnesota, 86 volunteers marched in four March for Babies locations. Minnesota’s Safety Wellness Action Team (SWAT) also supported fundraising efforts with sales of candy bars, meals and paper baby-shoe cutouts, contributing nearly $7,500 to the total of more than $23,000 raised. Luke Litteken, district director; Mary Lou Watson, sales consultant; and Scott Lehner, area manager (pictured left); distributed CNP plastic hard hats, granola bars and water at the CNP-sponsored Minneapolis checkpoint.